Alt iieinze



N0, 6l 4,865. Patented Nov. 29, I898. A. HEINZE.

BRIDGE GATE.

(Aiwplication filed Aug. 28, 1897).

(No Model.)

Wi Inventor.

Attorney- 'm: NORRIS PETERS c0 PNm'o-uwa, WASHINGTON, u. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. ALI llEINZE, OF MILWAUKEE, WVISOONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO LOUIS BRANDT, OF SAME PLACE.

BRIDGE-GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 614,865, dated November 29, 1898.

Application filed August 28, 1 897.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALI 'I-IEINZE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Bridge-Gates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in bridge-gates.

The objectof my invention is to provide a simple contrivance for fencing off the abutment when the bridge is open.

In the following description reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of the face of an abutment with my invention applied thereto, the gate being shown as it is when the bridge is open, with dotted lines showing its position when the bridge is closed. Fig. 2 is an end view of the bridge, showing the gate-actuatin g roller. Fig. 3 is a detail viewin cross-section, drawn on line an on of Fig. 1.

Like parts are identified by the same reference-letters throughout the several views.

A gate A is supported on the face of the abutment by ropes or chains B, attached to the gate at 0, running over. pulleys l) and secured to counterweights E, the latter being adapted to support the gate normally in the raised position. (Shown in Fig. 1.)

F are guide-brackets projecting from the abutment and loosely engaging the end pieces or pickets G of the gate, which is additionally supported when raised by the engagement of the end pieces Gin notches g in a. railing or post H, located at the sides of the approach.

For closing the gate I have attached thereto a rack-bar I, inclined in both directions from the center and adapted to be engaged by an adjustable cog-wheel J, carried by the bridge to depress the bar and gate when the bridge .is closed, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

WVhen the bridge is opened, the gate is automatically raised by the weights.

My gates are preferably formed of metal,

the upper rail being of T-iron, as shown in Serial No. 649,808. (No model.)

Fig. 3, which gives it sufficient strength to resist any strain that may come upon it.

By providing for the vertical adjustment of the cog-wheel J, I greatly facilitate the application of my invention to the bridge and its approach, for it is difficult to find two bridges of the same construction and proportion of the parts, and with a non-adjustable bearing wheel or roller it would be necessary to either build gates specially for each bridge or alter or remodel the construction of the bridge itself at the ends. However, a still more important reason for providing an adjustable bearing-Wheel is found in the fact that all the bridges of the swinging type'will tilt downwardly at the ends when subjected to the strain of heavy weights passing over them, and this tilting increases as the bridge becomes older. With an unusual weight or with the increased age of the bridge the strain upon the bearing-wheel would break the latter and permit the gate to rise if it were not permitted to yield in its adjustment; but with the construction shown it is obvious that the wheel would move vertically in its slotted bearing sufficiently to relieve the strain without permitting the gate to rise above the roadway, thus avoiding the liability of serious accident, which would result if the wheel were broken.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a bridge abutment, of a gate, adapted when in its raised position, to extend downwardly upon the face of the abutment with its lower portion permanently engaged by guide-brackets upon the face thereof, counterweights provided with flexible connections passing over said pulleys, and connected to the sides of the gate near its lower end, inclined bars secured to the lower portion of the gate, and an adjustable wheel carried by the bridge in a position to engage the inclined bars, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a bridge-abutment, of a gate, adapted when in its raised position, to extend downwardly upon the face of the abutment with its lower portion permanently engaged by guide-brackets upon the face of the abutment, pulleys supported by the abutment upon the face thereof, counterweights provided with flexible connections passing over said pulleys, and connected to the sides of the gate near its lower end, rackbars secured to the lower portion of the gate,

andan adjustable cogged wheel'carried by 16 the bridge in a position to engage the inclined bars, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALI HEINZE. \Vitnesses:

ARTHUR H. KOENITZER, JOHN N. MoEHN. 

